There used to be two public houses along Victoria Street in Grimsby both with Queen in their titles.

Trying to separate the two is somewhat confusing at times despite their very different outward appearances. Delving into the archives there are a few images of both establishments but narrative is often duplicated for both venues.

What is now Victoria Street North used to be known as Loft Street. This road became Victoria Street in 1854 after the visit of the Queen to open the dock - before that it was Baxtergate; a name revived in the 1960s development.

The Queen's Head, at 63 Victoria Street, Grimsby depicted on a postcard. The date is unknown

Both pubs are often referred to as the Queen's Head, although one is strictly speaking the Queen's Hotel with its coat of arms on the exterior. The other was The Queen's Head (Inn).

The Queens Head Hotel was situated at 354-356 Victoria Street, which puts it in the vicinity of Tesco, whilst the "Inn" was listed at 63 Victoria Street, Grimsby and this is one I have focused on.

The Queen's Head Inn

This gabled white building had Cottam's Ropemakers next door to it, on the right. It has previously been referred to as a 'staunch Tory pub'.

Pre-1830, Charles Stout was the landlord who then moved a few doors down to the Greyhound Inn at 69 Victoria Street.

In 1856 and 1863, Abraham Ruston was the listed innkeeper on the Morris pub directory; he also doubled up as an auctioneer. He also appears on the 1861 census as the innkeeper. He died in March, 1864 aged 52. And this is where my family connection comes in, as Abraham was my 3x great grandfather.

The Queen's Head, pictured in 1865, next door is Cottam's Ropemakers (Image: Reminiscences of Sport in Grimsby by Bob Lincoln - 1912)

The photo showing the Inn in 1865 The Queen's Head, shows several gentlemen stood outside, all appear to be looking at the photographer. The man in the doorway seems to have a beard and standing close by is a younger lad wearing an apron. Could they have been Inn staff?

Grimsby 1935 pub directory

Directory of Pubs in the UK historical public houses, Taverns, Inns, Beer Houses and Hotels in Lincolnshire. The Lincolnshire listing uses information from census, Trade Directories and History to add licensees, bar staff, Lodgers and Visitors.

The following entries are in this format:

Year/Publican or other Resident/Relationship to Head and or Occupation/Age/Where Born/Source.

Piecing together some family history, the next innkeeper is Williiam Weightman, a widower who married Abraham's widow Mary Ann Ruston. She is listed on the 1871, aged 57, census as living at the Queen's Head Inn as William's wife. John aged 34, William aged 20, Tom aged 15 and Joseph aged 13.

William Weightman was aged 80 on this census and subsequently passed away in 1875.

Grimsby born William Weightman (1813-1904) who left the UK for America and made a fortune. When he died in August 1904 his fortune was estimated at 120-million dollars, a considerable amount of money in those days (Image: Submitted photo)

Interestingly, his eldest son with his first wife Anne Farr (1794-1863) also called William Weightman (1813-1904) went on to great things in America with his uncle and chemist John Farr.

At the invitation of his uncle, who had founded the firm Farr and Kunzi - the first manufacturers of sulfate of quinine in America, the young butcher's apprentice emigrated to USA at the age of 16 in 1829. But that's another story!

The site of the old Queen's Head on Victoria Street which was redeveloped in the 1950s. Woolworths has since been replaced by New Look (Image: Grimsby Telegraph)